19-nor derivatives of 16, 17-dihydroxy-progesterone



United States Patent ()fiice Patented June 20, 1967 3,326,902 19-NOR DERIVATIVES F 16,17-DIHYDROXY- PROGESTERONE Patrick Andrew Diassi, Westtleld, N .J assignor, by mesne assignments, to E. R. Squibb & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Mar. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 439,065 3 Claims. (Cl. 260-23955) wherein W is lower alkyl; R is hydrogen; R is hydrogen and taken together R and R is wherein P is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, halo lower alkyl, monocyelic cycloalkyl, monocyelic cycloalkyl lower alkyl, monocyelic aryl, monocyclic aryl lower alkyl, monocyelic heterocyclic or monocyclic heterocyclic lower alkyl; Q is lower alkyl, halo lower akyl, monocyclic cycloalkyl, monocyelic cycloalkyl lower alkyl, monocyelic aryl, monocyelic aryl lower alkyl, monocyclic heterocyclic or monocyclic heterocyclic lower alkyl; or together with the carbon to which they are joined P and Q is a monocyelic cycloalkyl or monocyelic heterocyclic radical.

The final products of this invention are physiologically active substances which possess progestational activity and hence can be used in lieu of known progestational agents, such as progesterone, in the treatment of habitual abortion. For this purpose, they can be administered in the same manner as progesterone, for example, the dosage being adjusted for the relative potency of the particular steroid. The compounds of this invention can also be administered perorally in the form of tablets. Moreover, it has surprisingly been found that the compounds of this invention are many times more active than are the corresponding 19-methylated derivatives.

The compounds of this invention can be prepared by employing the novel processes of this invention beginning with compounds of the formula wherein P and Q are as hereinbefore defined, as starting material. The starting material of this invention may be prepared in accordance with the procedures set forth in copending application, Ser. No. 129,234, filed Aug. 4, 1961, in the names of Josef Fried and Mariano Guid-ucci, and issued as US. Patent 3,243,433, on Mar. 29, 1966'.

The compounds of this invention may be prepared according to the process of this invention which may be represented by the following equations wherein R, R, P, and Q are as hereinbefore defined; and Z is lower alkyl:

-----0 P 11 O Q j o E Q In the first step of the process of this invention, the 16,17-acetal and ketal derivatives of 16,17-dihydroxy 19- norprogesterone are alkylated, as by treatment with an alkyl orthoformate, for example, ethyl orthoformate to yield the 16,17-acetal and ketal derivatives of 3-alkoxy- 19-nor-A -pregnadiene-20-one (Compounds A), which are new compounds of this invention.

To obtain any desired 16,17-ketal or acetal derivative of this invention, Compounds B may then be treated with an aldehyde or ketone of the formula wherein P and Q are as hereinbefore defined. The reaction is preferably carried out by treating a suspension or solution of the dihydroxy steroid in the aldehyde or ketone (or an organic solvent and the aldehyde or ketone, if the adehydes or ketone is a solid) with an acid catalyst (e.g., perchloric acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, hydrochloric acid, and so forth), neutralizing the acid and recovering the acetal or ketal derivative formed.

Suitable aldehyde and ketone reactants include lower alkanals of at least two carbon atoms, such as paraldehyde, propanal and heXanal; di(lower alkyl) -ketones, such as acetone, diethylketone, 'dibutylketone, rnethylethylketone, and methylisobutylketone; cycloalkanones, such as 3 cyclobutanone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone, suberone, and cyclodexanone; cycloalkyl (lower alkanals), such as cyclopropylcarboxaldehyde, cyclobutylcarboxaldehyde, cyclopentylcarboxaldehyde, cyclohexylcarboxaldehyde, cycloheptylcarboxaldehyde, cyclooctylcarboxaldehyde, cyclopropylacetaldehyde, cyclobutylacetaldehyde, cyclopentylaoetaldehyde, cyclohexylacetaldehyde, ,8-cyclopentylpropionaldehyde, 'y-cyclohexylbutyraldehyde, and 3-cyclopropylcaproaldehyde; cycloalkyl (lower alkanones such as cyclopropylmethyl ketone, cyclobutyl ethyl ketone, cyclopentyl propyl ketone, cyclopentylmethyl methyl ketone, cyclohexylmethyl ethyl ketone, cyclopentylethyl ethyl ketone, cyclopropylpropyl methyl ketone, cyclohexyl n-pentyl ketone, cyclohexyl methyl ketone, and cyclooctyl methyl ketone; dicycloalkyl ketones, such as dicyclopropyl ketone, dicyclobutyl ketone, dicyclopentyl ketone, dicyclohexyl ketone, cyclopentyl cyclohexyl ketone, cyclopropylmethyl cyclopropyl ketone, 2-cyclobutylethyl cyclopropyl ketone, 3-cyclopentylmethyl cyclopentyl ketone, S-cyclohexylhexyl cyclohexyl ketone, di(cyclopentylmethyl) ketone, cyclohexylmethyl cyclopentyl ketone, and di(4-cyclohexylpentyl) ketone; cycloalkylmonocyclic aromatic -ketones, such as cyclopropyl phenyl ketone, cyclohexyl p-chlorophenyl ketone, cyclopentyl omethoxyphenyl ketone, cyclopentyl -o,p-dihydroxyphenyl ketone, cyclohexyl m-tolyl ketone, cyclo-propyl p-ethylphenyl ket-one cyclopropyl p-nitrophenyl ketone, and cyclohexyl p-acetamidophenyl ketone; cycloalkyl(lower alkyl) monocyclic .aromatic ketones, such as cyclopentylmethyl phenyl ketone; cycloalkyl monocyclic aromatic (lower alkyl) ketones, such as cyclopentyl benzyl 'ketone, cyclohexyl phenethyl ketone, and cyclobutyl benzyl ketone; cycloalkyl(lower alkyl) monocyclic aromatic (lower alkyl) ketones, such as cyclopentylmethyl benzyl ketones; cycloalkyl monocyclic heterocyclic ketones, such as cyclopentyl Z-furyl ketone, cyclohexyl 2-thienyl ketone, and cyclopropyl 2-pyridinyl ketone; cycloalkyl (lower alkyl) monocyclic heterocyclic ketones, such as cyclopentylmethyl 2-piperidinyl ketone, cyclohexylethyl 2-morpholinyl ketone and cyclopropyl 2-thieny1 ketone; cycloalkyl monocyclic heterocyclic (lower alkyl) ketones, such as cyclopentyl thenyl ketone, cyclohexyl furfuryl ketone and cyclopropyl 2-piperidinylmethyl ketone; halo-lower alkanals, such as chloral hydrate, trifluoroacetaldehyde hemiacetal, and heptafiu-orobutanal ethyl herniacetal; halo-lower a1- kanones, such as 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone; monocyclic carbocyclic aromatic aldehydes, such as benzaldehyde, halobenzaldehydes (e.g. p-chlorobenzaldehyde and p-fluorobenzalde'hyde), lower alkoxybenzaldehydes (e.g., o-anisaldehyde), di(lower alkoxy) benzaldehydes (e.g., veratraldehyde), hydroxybenzaldehydes (e.g. salicylaldehyde), dihydroxybenzaldehydes (e.g. resorcyaldehyde), lower alkyl benzaldehydes (e.g. m-tolualdehyde and p-ethylbenzaldehyde), di(lower alkyl) benzaldehydes (e.g. o,p-dimethylbenzaldehyde), nitrobenzaldehydes, acylamidobenzaldehydes (e.g. N-acetylanthranilaldehyde), and cyanobenzaldehydes; monocyclic carboxylic aromatic lower alkanals, such as phenylacetaldehyde, uphenylpropionaldehyde; ,e-phenylpropionaldehyde, 'y-phenylbutyraldehyde, and aromatically-substituted halo lower alkoxy, hydroxy, lower alkyl, nitro, acylamido and cyano derivatives thereof; monocyclic heterocyclic aldehydes, such as picolinaldehydes, furfural, thiophene carbonals, and halo, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, lower alkyl, nitro, and cyano derivatives thereof; monocyclic heterocyclic lower alkanals; monocyclic carbocyclic aromatic ketones, such as acetophenone, a,0c,oL-lIlfl11OIOB.C6'tOph6I10I16, propiophenone, butyrophenone, varlerophenone, isocaprophenone, halophenyl lower alkyl ketones (e.g. p-chloroacetophenone and p-chloropropiophenone), (lower alkoxy) phenyl lower alkyl ketones (e.g. p-anisyl methyl ketone), di- (lower alkoxy)phenyl lower alkyl ketones, hydroxy-p'henyl lower alkyl ketones, dihydroxyphenyl lower'alkyl ketones (e.g. resacetophenone), (lower alkyl) phenyl lower alkyl ketones (e.g. methyl p-tolyl ketone), di(lower alkylphenyl lower alkyl ketones (o,p-xylyl methyl ketone), nitrophenyl lower alkyl ketones (e.g. p-nitroacetophenone), acylamidophenyl lower alkyl ketones (e.g. acetyl anilines), and cyanophenyl lower alkyl ketones; benzophenone, and mono or bis substituted halo, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, lower alkyl, nitro, acylamido and cyano derivatives thereof; monocyclic carbocyclic aromatic lower alkanones, such as l-phenyl-3-butanone and 1-phenyl-4- pentanone, and aromatically substituted derivatives thereof; monocyclic heterocyclic ketones, such as 2-acetylfuran, Z-benzoylfuran, Z-acetyl-thiophene and alloxan; and monocyclic heterocyclic lower alkanones.

The following examples are illustrative of the invention (all temperatures being in degrees centigrade unless specifically noted.)

Example 1.-3-eth0 xy-1 6a,] 7a-dimethylmethylenedio 1 9-n0r-A -pregnadiene-2 0-.0ne

To a suspension of 5 gm. of 16a,17a-dirnethylrnethyleneclioxy-l9-nor-progesterone in a mixture of 38 ml. of dioxane, 0.5 ml. of absolute ethanol and 5 ml. of ethyl orthoformate, 3.5 ml. of a dioxane solution containing 0.18 ml. of sulfuric acid are added. The mixture is stirred for twenty minutes at room temperature then 2. ml. of pyridine are added and the mixture diluted with 30 ml. of water. The precipitate which separates is filtered, washed with methanol-water (1:1) and dried to give 3- CthOXy-16cgl7a dimethylmethylenedioxy-19 nor-A pregnadiene-ZO-one.

Example 2.3-eth0 xy-] 6 0a,] 7 oc- (B-methyl-aph eny lmethylenedioxy -19-n0r-A -pregnadiene-20-0ne Following the procedure of Example 1 but substituting 16oc,17oc (e-methyl-ot-phenylmethylenedioxy) 19 norprogesterone for 16a,17a-dimethylmethylenedioxy-l9-norprogesterone there is obtained 3-ethoxy-16a,17 x-(B-methyl-u-phenylmethylene-dioxy) 19-nor A -pregnadiene- 20 one.

The invention may be variously otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A compounds of the formula wherein W is lower alkyl; P is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, halo lower alkyl, monocyclic cycloalkyl, monocyclic cycloalkyl lower alkyl, monocyclic aryl, monocyclic aryl lower alkyl, monocyclic heterocyclic and monocyclic heterocyclic lower alkyl; Q is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, halo lower alkyl, monocyclic cycloalkyl, monocyclic cycloalkyl lower alkyl, monocyclic aryl, monocyclic aryl References Cited lower alkyl, monocyclic heterocyclic and monocyclic UNITED STATES PATENTS heterocyclic lower alkyl; and together with the carbon to 3 095 411 6/1963! Kirk et a1 2160;239'55 which they are joined P and Q is selected from the group 3123601 3/1964 Diassi consisting of monocyclic cycloalkyl and monocyclic het- 5 3213087 10/1965 Bowers et 260 239 55 erocyclic.

2. 3-ethoXy-16a,17a-dimethy1methy1enedioxy 19-n0r- LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner. ELBERT L. ROBERTS, Examiner.

3. 3-fith0XY-16oc,17oz (fi-methyl-u-phenylmethylenedi- I 19 3,5 THOMAS M. MESHBESHER, Asszstant Exammer. 

1. A COMPOUNDS OF THE FORMULA 